Young people in Australia have become less optimistic about
their future in the "lucky country". According to a new international
study, less than one in ten millennials believe they will be better off than
their parents, a number much less than the United States, Europe, and certain
developing countries such as Indonesia and India. While Australia has enjoyed a
relatively healthy economy since the global financial crisis, it seems surging house
prices and decreased job security have left dark clouds on the horizon.

New property listings are down across Australia, with low
stock levels and strong demand leading to rising prices before a possible
slowdown later in 2017. According to data from CoreLogic, January listings were
down in all cities except Melbourne on a monthly basis, with national figures
down 23.5 percent compared with the same period last year. With fewer homes
entering the market and demand remaining strong, some property owners are
taking advantage of current conditions by making the decision to sell.

The future of household solar will depend on many factors,
including emerging photovoltaic (PV) and battery technologies, state-level
decisions, and the wider energy economy. While the global solar market remains
strong after experiencing rapid growth over the last few years, the number of solar
installations will shrink in 2017 for the first time in 16 years. According to
GTM Research, global photovoltaic (PV) installations will shrink by 7 percent
this year, with a cumulative average growth rate of 8 percent forecast over the
next five years.

Is it possible to slow down the ageing process? Can we look
and feel younger by changing our lifestyle? According to a new study by
researchers at the University of California - the answer is a resounding yes.
New research investigated links between physical activity and biological age in
a group of elderly women, with sedentary women found to be biologically older
by an average of eight years. People who exercise on a regular basis are often
thought to be healthier and have a more youthful appearance, with scientific
proof now available to inspire your love of fitness.

A new report by Oxfam highlights inequality across the
globe, with dramatic figures showing a huge disparity between the haves and
have-nots. Released just before the World Economic Forum, 'An Economy For The
99%' claims that eight men control the same wealth as the poorest half of the
world. While the methodology used in this report has been criticised in the
past by free market think tanks, it shines a light onto a very real problem -
not a lack of resources but economic bottlenecks in the mechanisms of
distribution.